Ernie Els leaves Titleist for Callaway.

I wonder what they had to pay..

http://www.golfdigest.co.za/stories/...ALLAWAY780.php

/Samson

New pair of golf shoes and all the balls he can eat

What ever the amount was, it is more than what Titleist wanted to pay to use his name. It's is not about equipment brand names with the pros. Those guys could take a blue light special brand of clubs and still play well. The dollar amount offered speaks the loudest. Then again maybe Els thought he could not become the next #1 player in the world while having to play with Titleist equipment. GJS

Titleist probably werent willing to pay top dollar for what they might see as yesterdays man. There was a bit of that when Taylor Made virtually 'swapped' Els for Garcia in 03.

Callaway will probably be pleased that they have managed to get someone on board revered for his swing. Despite having Mickelson and Howell III they didnt really have a big name that was regarded as having a classic action. They probably hope to put Callaway irons in the minds of better amateurs a lot of whom still associate Callaway Irons, at least, with the stigma of a 'game improvement' iron.

The european aspect is important as well, there are very few Callaway men appear on the European Tour who are regarded as world stars.

But as Els said himself (I think when he went from Taylor made to Titleist, maybe it was the Lynx-Taylor Made move) 'Irons dont matter to me because I play blades, as long as the shaft is right, I'll play them'

Says it all I think, but wouldnt it be nice to see Callaway have another go a proper blade, with Els' input of course......

D.

__________________
Longniddry Golf Club Champ 2005.

In the Taylor Made Bag:

Callaway FT-3 Tour 9.5 Aldila NV 65S

Callaway Steelhead 3 Wood

Callaway Steelhead 5 Wood

Callaway X-16 3-PW

MacGregor Tourney 52 Degree

Cobra Phil Rodgers 59 Degree Rusty

Odyssey DFX 2-Ball

Callaway Tour iX

Fusion FT-i in Els' bag ?